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About

Yasutaka Satou is a leading aerospace engineer at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), whose work is central to humanity’s first attempt to return samples from the Martian moon Phobos. His primary research focuses on planetary sampling technologies, robotic arm dynamics, and subsurface regolith acquisition under extreme time constraints. Satou’s most significant contribution is his role in developing the sampling system for the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, including the innovative Pneumatic Sampler (P-Sampler), a NASA-provided tool designed to capture surface material using compressed gas. His 2020 paper on the P-Sampler, with 16 citations, and his 2021 work on the MMX corer shooter, with 7 citations, define the mission’s sampling architecture. Satou has also pioneered techniques for rapid subsurface sampling on asteroids, addressing the challenge of navigating unknown obstructions within just a few hours—a breakthrough published in 2020. His 2024 study on spacecraft and robotic arm dynamics during Phobos sampling further refines mission safety. With a growing citation record and direct impact on a flagship international mission, Satou is shaping the future of extraterrestrial sample return.